Charlotte Findlater Design invites you to discover how we can extend your home with bespoke ecoscaping and designs that align with our biophilic ethos and connect inside to out.
How to incorporate outdoor design inside?
At Charlotte Findlater Design, our ethos strives to incorporate your outdoor space, acknowledging that your garden is an extension of your home and it is vital to treat it with the same level of importance as your internal spaces. Through our full turn key solutions we integrate bespoke garden designs; we delve deep into biophilic design principles and the creation of timeless moments.
Biophilic design integration in garden design
Nestled in the heart of the country side, this renovated barn offers breath taking, tranquil views of the surrounding area and stretches as far as the Lake District peaks. Our commitment to biophilic design and regenerative design shines through in this project, incorporating natural materials we create gardens with native, non-invasive species that strengthen biodiversity. Through sustainable planting methods, our landscaping team ensures that the garden remains a vibrant and ecologically, rich sanctuary for years to come.
Custom garden design zoning for functionality
The space is a continuously evolving property, serving as both an office and home. Recent renovations have enhanced structural integrity and design, allowing for greater fluidity and functionality. Our designs carefully analyze the clients needs and lifestyle to zone the spaces effectively, ensuring that each area serves a distinct purpose while maintaining a cohesive flow.
Our key focus will always shift to the clients, aiming to create a space that caters to each individual’s needs for the long term, while staying true to the property’s character. The barn has strong tactile roots, raw materials such as stone and oak are pivotally evident throughout, forging an emotional connection for both the property and the clients.
Creating moments of reflection and connection
When understanding the key requirements of the space we narrowed down to two ‘Moments’. Moments of connection through social areas and Moments of reflection through private spaces to be enjoyed through self reflection both mentally and physically using natural materials.
Our ecoscaping design philosophy revolves around identifying key requirements of the space through studying the site and ample research into the project evoking its unique and memorable experiences within your design. Each moment is crafted to evoke emotions and create lasting memories. The moments for this garden include secluded seating nooks surrounded by aromatic flowers; inviting seating areas under oversized oak structures draped with vines and wisteria and a playful water feature that brings a sense of serenity.
Sustainable practices in ecoscaping design
Charlotte Findlater Design ethos is centered around sustainability and longevity. Therefore this project gifted opportunities to focus on re-use and re-purpose. We naturally created two branches: to create a functional space while delicately integrating nature seamlessly between the building and the outdoors. Sustainability is at the core of Charlotte Findlater Design incorporating multiple practices such as rainwater harvesting, composting, a productive zone for growing your own vegetables and the use of native plants to create a self-sustaining ecosystem. Our designs not only enhance your own living experience but also heavily contributes positively to the environment creating a rich biodiverse habitat which creates thriving havens for wildlife.
Personalization and Craftsmanship
With 110m² of space and an existing stone border, the garden needed to be zoned to fulfil the client’s requirements. The two main purposes of this space were family gatherings and dining. Our ethos and mission is to integrate these functions without creating one large open-plan area which ultimately becomes generic and outgrown quickly. This is why for this project we introduced ‘Moments.’ As a studio, we embrace biophilic design and the connection between spaces, embedding reflection both physically and mentally to fully immerse in our designs.
Beyond Sight; a non-visual design into the senses.
One of the key principles woven into all designs is our Salutogenic Design approach, which focuses on creating spaces and buildings that have a transformative impact on health and well-being. A crucial aspect of implementing these principles is the incorporation of the six senses: Vision, Hearing, Smell, Taste, Touch, and Movement. While the traditional five senses are commonly recognized, it’s increasingly evident that movement otherwise categorized as proprioception, for both of ourselves and our environments is a crucial aspect to consider. A well-designed garden should engage all the senses, from the scent of plants and the sounds of surrounding wildlife to the textures of raw materials. However, in this design, we paid particular attention to the motion within the space.
Large architectural elements and structures, while impressive, can risk making any design feel robust and harsh, potentially overwhelming the space. To counterbalance this, we introduced special species of plants and flowers including climbers such as wisteria and jasmine; lavender and lemon balm that have strong scent all of which evoke calming movement, softening the environment and allowing the design to become more fluid. This, in turn, enables the client to engage with and mirror these gentle movements. The water feature, a central element of the design, introduces continuous movement, uniting all the senses in one focal point. This feature serves as an anchor for the space, creating a harmonious balance between the dynamic and the serene.
Finding the balance between Design, Functionality and Lifestyle
Upon inspecting the site, it became clear that the space lacked dimension and was easily visible and accessible from the front parking area. The design focused on the family’s dynamic and how this can be translated and symbolic of the family. Erecting three oversized oak beam architectural door frames at specific angles and sizes, gave the space a key focus of entry whilst obscured the main view from the drive, creating a unique and inviting entrance to the garden.
Seamless Indoor-Outdoor designs
On each project we focus on, natural, recycled, and non-toxic materials to minimize environmental impact. We have taken the property’s surrounding materials and excess waste from its previous internal renovation and have focused on integrating those materials into the design.
The main relaxation seating area will be anchored by a Corten log burning fire pit, surrounded by seating made from existing stone reclaimed from the build site. This area will be semi-sheltered by a bespoke pergola that blends seamlessly with the master bedroom’s balustrade.
The garden is divided into two key areas: the seating area and the dining area. These zones are centered around the existing raised bed stairs and an unused drinking cow trough salvaged from the property’s land. The general design is clean and minimalist, but the Studio’s methodology—emphasizing the use of reclaimed materials and the connectivity of spaces—creates an unwritten narrative that flows throughout the garden. The key element to do this sits within the design details of its pathways. This subtle water feature design grounds the space and define the boundaries between different areas and flooring materials, tying the entire garden together into a cohesive whole. For those who dream of transforming their spaces into personalized havens that reflect their unique stories and passions; Charlotte Findlater Design invites you to reach out.
